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Senator Downing Reads To Brayton Students
By Jack Guerino, iBerkshires Staff
05:25PM / Tuesday, April 19, 2016
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State Sen. Benjamin Downing reads to Brayton Elementary School students on Friday and took questions from the class.


NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — State Sen. Benjamin Downing celebrated a belated Read Across America Day at Brayton Elementary School on Friday and answered students' questions.

Although Read Across America day was in March, Downing did not want to pass up a chance to read to Marie McCarron's and Karen Cellana's fourth grade classes.

"He was really busy in march when it was actually Read Across America Day, but he never says no so we rescheduled it," McCarron said. "The kids were so excited and honestly they just like to be read to. They absorb everything."

Downing read "The Mountain That Loved a Bird" written by Alice McLerran with pictures by Eric Carle. The book tells the tale of a bird that every spring flies in search of the best place to build a nest. After befriending a mountain, she promises that every spring one of her kin will visit the mountain.

Downing not only read the book and discussed what it means with the students, but explained to them what he does as a senator and what role education played in his career.

Downing added that he enjoys opportunities such as this one.

"It's one thing to look at them as numbers in a budget as line items but you come here and you see the magic that happens in a classroom," Downing said. "It just reminds you of what's important so it's for perspective ... Also, it's fun to come read to them. You are always looking at the challenges and you come here and see the possibilities in kids faces."

Downing told the students he would return in the future and asked them to promise him a few things.

"Pay attention to your teachers, they are all working hard and trying to help you and if you want to figure out your wildest dreams its starts here," he said. "No. 2, read a little bit outside of school ... and don't ever let anyone ever tell you you can't do something. If you put in the work and you pay attention ... than that one should be easy."

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